The 20 diverse stories collected here show why the short story continues to be one of the most popular of literary genres. Included are works by masters of the field, including one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's best Pat Hobby stories, "Boil Some Water#151;Lots of It," Saki's "The Schartz-Metterklume Method," and "Jeff Peters as a Personal Magnet," O. Henry's hilarious tale of an incorrigible conman. Also included are gothic and ghost stories from Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, and M.R. James; tales of adventure from John Buchan and Sapper, best known for his Bulldog Drummond stories; comedic sketches from Jerome K. Jerome and Mark Twain, and other delightful works. Among the collection's gems are "Into the Sun," an early science fiction tale by the obscure but influential Robert Duncan Milne and E.F. Benson's chilling vampire story, "Mrs. Amworth." Memorable readings further enhance this fine anthology's many pleasures.